by Vella Day
“How?” Thane asked, acting as if he were suddenly in charge.
“I can give Finn a shifter signature, but like my sister’s facial magic, it will only last a few hours.”
Who were these women? It was almost creepy that he was about to be transformed—albeit temporarily—into another man, but to be given a shifter signature different from his own? He doubted even Ophelia had that kind of power.
Thane smiled. “That would be fantastic!”
Both of the women surrounded Finn. “Shall we begin?”
Finn admitted he was nervous—if not downright scared shitless—about being solely responsible for rescuing Kaleena. Sure, when he looked into the mirror and saw someone else’s face, he had kind of freaked. The texture was different than his usual skin, and he could almost feel his wolf fighting to exercise its dominance over this fake dragon inside him. He hoped he’d still be drawn to Kaleena, and that the dragon spell didn’t block his mate’s allure. If it did, he might never find his way to her.
“Ready?” Jamison asked.
“As I’ll ever be.”
He clipped a cell phone onto Finn’s hip. “As soon as you go in, turn on the camera. One of Kaleena’s cousins is back at the office, and she’ll be monitoring and recording everything. In case something goes wrong, she can contact us.”
Let’s hope she isn’t needed, though having some kind of backup made him feel better. “Thanks.”
“Ready for your ride?”
“It’s not dark yet,” he said.
Jamison smiled. “Don’t worry. No one will see us. When I cloak, whatever I’m touching becomes invisible too. Now let’s go. The others have their assignments.”
Finn could hardly say no. “Okay.”
They stepped outside to find the sun had almost set. A second later, Jamison burst into his dragon splendor, and Finn couldn’t help but admire his shiny black scales, dotted with iridescent silver ones. This time when the large claws came at him, Finn was ready—or so he thought. Despite knowing what to expect, the speed with which they rose still took his breath away. Finn might have enjoyed the scenery more had Kaleena not been on his mind—or so he told himself.
Finn was terrified. If he messed this up, the woman he loved might be lost to him forever.
You can do this, his wolf said. I won’t let you fail.
You better not.
Once Finn entered the castle and headed down the stairs, he focused on Kaleena’s sensual draw to guide him. It didn’t take long before his wolf found her again.
Is she in the same place as before? he asked his wolf.
Mate, mate, his animal panted.
Focus. That’s not what I asked. We need to find her and save her. Is she in her same cell? Finn asked again, wanting to strangle his wolf. He wouldn’t of course because he needed him too much.
Yes, he growled out. She’s still caged. I can feel her pain and frustration.
Stop it.
Thinking about Kaleena’s dire situation tormented him enough. If he expected to save her, he needed to be able to think clearly. The moldy corridor was making him cough and that wasn’t helping him remain unnoticed. After five minutes of turning right then left so many times he was confident he was lost, he spotted the box that contained the keys.
Heart pounding, he glanced around, but saw no one. He eased open the metal door, and the resulting squeak was enough to wake the dead. Shh, he called out. At least someone hadn’t locked it in the last hour.
Hanging on hooks were six keys—marked only with a number. Fuck. Which one opened Kaleena’s cell? He didn’t remember seeing any numbers on the cells. Dare he take all of them? Even if he did, wouldn’t it draw too much attention when he had to try one, then the next, and then the next? And if he did walk out of the castle with them all, how could the prisoners ever be released? On the other hand, these keys might come in handy if the Guardians wanted to free some of the others.
Rather proud of himself for thinking ahead, Finn grabbed them all and stuffed them into several pockets to make the theft less obvious.
That’s the right move, his wolf snapped.
Thank you. Not that he had to answer to his animal, but it was his ability to sense Kaleena that would make this a successful trip.
He closed the key door, and the clasp snapped shut. Good. It might take a while for a guard to notice anything was amiss.
Knowing that Kaleena’s family was waiting, he continued on his way. Needing to remain calm, he inhaled and let the scent of his mate draw him to her. Thankfully, his wolf did not disappoint. When he rounded the last corner and saw her in the cell, he almost shouted.
Be cool, his wolf said. This is the hardest part.
Like I don’t know that? Sheesh—I’ve got this. You need to keep from messing things up now.
She’s so beautiful. His wolf sighed. I want her now. Hurry.
This was what Finn feared—his animal going crazy after all these weeks of wanting her. Keep my claws and sharpened teeth in check. We don’t want to give anything away.
His wolf just grunted.
Fearing it might cause one of the guards to check on her, Kaleena forced herself not to pace in her small cell. Having seen Finn in person was a bigger high than she’d thought possible. The problem now was that her damned dragon had become even more anxious for release.
Her animal whined once more.
Stop complaining. You can’t shift even if I let you, Kaleena told her.
If Finn comes around, I might be stronger than any curse.
If only that were true. Just hold on for a little longer.
I can if Sanditra doesn’t show up today and try to force me to perform unspeakable acts, her dragon told Kaleena.
That was one of Kaleena’s biggest fears. What if the dark lighter took her someplace when her brothers or Finn showed up? Then what?
Now that her location had been discovered, she hoped Rathan didn’t learn of the breach and move her. Needing to wash up before she was rescued, Kaleena stood and moved over to the sink. Having Finn see her in this filthy place upset her, but from the way his eyes had changed colors when he was close, he hadn’t really noticed the dirt or her stench.
Footsteps echoed from down the long hallway—the same one Finn had come from—and her pulse soared. When she glanced up, the air left her lungs. It wasn’t Finn, but another guard she hadn’t seen before. Please walk on by.
That not only didn’t happen, he made a beeline toward her. Oh, no. Had Rathan found out about what her escape plan? She edged toward the back of the cell, and then stopped. Her body tingled, and waves of euphoria washed over her. Okay, she must be hallucinating, or else that dark lighter had put yet another spell on her. Kaleena shouldn’t be reacting to this creep.
When he reached her cell and made eye contact, she could have sworn his eyes turned amber—not the usual dragon turquoise. From his pocket he pulled out six keys. The guard stuck one in the lock and twisted it, but it didn’t open the door. He mumbled something under his breath. Was the guard going to transport her someplace else?
It’s Finn, her dragon said.
It can’t be. He didn’t look anything like Finn, so why was she reacting to him in a lustful way?
The man tried another key. It too didn’t work. She was about to make some snarky comment when the next key opened the door. Without a word, he motioned for her to exit.
Mate, mate, her dragon chanted, sounding way too cheerful.
It’s not Finn, she tossed back.
Yes it is!
“Where are we going?” she asked in the most confident tone she could muster.
“The prince wants to see you,” he said loud enough for the whole castle to hear.
Kaleena stilled. That voice. Even though it came out quite deep, it sounded like Finn. “Is that you?” she whispered. If the man were a real guard, he’d think she was just crazy.
Finn nodded and then checked the hall running parallel to the cells. “Yes. Come on. It�
�s time to get you out of here. My disguise won’t last forever.”
Disguise? It didn’t matter. This was Finn. Her mate! Kaleena wanted to hug and kiss him so badly, but then they’d never leave. “Wait. You’ll have to blindfold me. I’m never allowed out of here without one.”
“Fuck.” While he sounded like Finn, he didn’t look anything like him. That sure was some disguise. Finn glanced around then nodded to her jacket on the bed. “How about using that?”
“Good thinking.” Now full of energy, she rushed back to the bed and lifted her jacket. “My hands are linked together. Can you do it?”
Finn rolled up the body of the thin jacket, placed it over her eyes, and then tied the sleeves behind her head. When he was finished, Kaleena lifted the covering a little to leave a bit of viewing area out the bottom.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yes, but if any guard comes along, you have to grab my arm or shove me hard. You must act like you’re superior, and I’m just a lowly prisoner.”
“I can’t do that.”
Kaleena almost smiled at the horror in his voice. “To make it look legitimate, you’ll have to.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Now, do you know the way out?” he asked.
“No. Why can’t we go out the same way you came in?”
“If another guard shows up, I wouldn’t be able to convince him I’m not trying to help you escape. The corridors I came through only lead to the front of the castle.”
“Well, fuck.”
Chapter Nine
Finn had to stave off his urges to touch Kaleena, urges that were stronger than anything he’d ever experienced. This was his mate, the woman he loved, but he needed to wait a bit longer.
Touch her now, his wolf begged.
What if we’re caught, you horn dog?
Grr. Mate, mate.
You don’t think I don’t want to wrap my arm around Kaleena’s waist to make sure she doesn’t trip? I do, but if anyone saw my act of kindness, they’d question me for sure. Besides, I don’t trust you not to go further.
Kaleena moaned and slowed as if she were suffering. “Are you okay?” he whispered.
She nodded, and she pressed on her stomach. Her shoulders slumped. Kaleena was a brave woman. “We need to keep going,” she ground out.
“Keep moving, prisoner,” Finn said with authority. While he didn’t see any other guards, his voice probably carried.
After what seemed like hours instead of probably minutes, they reached a set of stairs going up. “Be careful. There are four steps,” he whispered.
Kaleena swayed and stumbled, but Finn caught her. She’d told him the cuffs contained poison, and it must have injected her with another dose.
Poison. “Do you need to rest?”
“I’m okay. Now please, keep slightly behind me. Shove me if you have to. That’s how the guards always do it.”
If anyone overheard that conversation, they’d both be tossed in a cell. If only he could communicate with her telepathically, like when they were asleep, it would make traveling a lot easier. He didn’t like having to act like an ass, but their freedom depended on it. “Got it.”
You will be able to communicate whenever you want after you mate, his wolf reminded him with too much glee. I bet she’ll talk dirty to you all the time.
Shut up. I can’t think about that now. You don’t think I’m this close to finding an alcove and making love to her? We just don’t have time for that, Finn shot back, angry that his animal was so shortsighted.
Come on. Her scent is driving me crazy, his animal stated. No one is near. At least rub your hands down the soft curve of her back for me. You want to. I can tell.
No! We have to wait until we are clear of the castle.
This time his wolf didn’t respond.
Frustration bit into him once more when another guard drew near. When they reached the top of the stairs, Finn had no choice but to grab a hold of Kaleena’s arm and jerk her forward, which was a big mistake on a personal level. That one touch caused a strong electric surge of lust to rip through his body at the intimate contact. He quickly let go.
Without intending to, he raked his gaze down her back and along the curve of her waist down to her strong, shapely legs. A sharp bolt of desire straight through him again, enough to light him up.
Shift, his wolf urged.
Finn sobered. We’d be caught for sure. He didn’t blame his wolf for wanting to touch her all over, but now wasn’t the time. Why couldn’t his animal understand that?
Even if his distracting mate hadn’t been with him, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to tell if he’d walked in circles or not. This maze of hallways was intricate. Finn had a camera attached to his hip, but if he stopped and replayed their path, there was no guarantee he’d learn where he’d made the wrong turn. At school, he’d been told that if he kept his right hand on the right side of a maze and continued around—like forever—eventually he’d reach the end. Time, however, didn’t allow for that luxury.
“Hold up for a sec,” Finn said. “We need to mark where we’ve been so we don’t make the same mistake twice.” Or three or four times.
Finn closed his eyes and focused on extending his claws. Only when he was going into a full shift did they remain in his wolf form, but if he concentrated hard enough he could control how long his claws remained. The bones in his hands morphed, and when he looked, his paws appeared. Without wasting time, he scraped a claw down the rock that thankfully left a mark.
“This will be enough to let me know we’ve been down this path before. I’ll do one scratch for right and two for left.” Had there been loose stones around, he’d have used them.
“Good thinking.” She flashed him a smile, and he instantly remembered that look from the many times in his dreams when they’d been swimming under the waterfall and making love behind it.
“Do you know how long it should take us to reach the outside?” He kept looking for an exit sign at the end of a corridor but none existed.
“When the dark lighter led me outside, it only took about fifteen minutes to get there from my cell.”
Shit. He hoped like hell they weren’t lost. “Let’s keep going then.”
They were halfway down the next corridor when she planted a hand on his arm to stop him. “I hear voices,” she whispered.
Her touch flared his desire. Not now, he told his wolf. It didn’t matter the flood of hormones helped cancel some of the anxiety rushing through him.
Sorry, his animal said, though he seemed more overjoyed at her touch than contrite.
Finn inhaled to push aside the lust and was able to make out some female as well as male tones. “I’m not sure we should head that way. I don’t want someone to ask where we’re going and then escort us to the prince.”
“That would be deadly,” she said.
After another ten minutes, Finn stopped at an intersection. “Crap. Here’s my claw scrape. We’ve been here before. The two slashes imply we went left before, so we need to go right this time.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll get out of here.”
He loved her optimism. If he’d spent days in a cell, he wasn’t sure he’d be so calm. Kaleena led again, but this time it was as if she was drawing on some internal sensors to guide her.
She took another step and her knees buckled, landing on all fours before he could catch her. Panic tripped through him. Not sensing anyone near, he lifted her up, trying not to think what her touch was doing to him. “Are you all right?” he whispered.
“Kind of, it’s just these stupid cuffs. They sent another dose of poison into me. The waves seem to be coming at shorter and shorter intervals.”
“Your dragon can’t heal you?” His wolf would be fighting hard.
“Yes, but even she is growing weary. Plus, I haven’t eaten much.”
Shit. “We’ll rest then.”
“No. We can’t afford to.”
“We’ll go slow.” Her determinati
on made him love her more. He led her down the corridor. After a hundred more feet, he stopped. “Do you smell that?” he asked.
“What?”
“The air is fresher.”
She inhaled. “Yes. I think we’re close. Okay, when we get to the door, you must grab my arm and pretend you’re forcing me outside.”
He didn’t like it, but he understood that he had to make it look good. No telling what was on the other side. Totally focused on his sense of smell, he found a large wooden door, bordered by wrought iron and dotted with steel. It looked very much like what he’d expected to see in the Dark Ages. Holding his breath, he pushed it open and was met by a warm breeze. Hello, outside world!
He clasped her arm, and soon as he made contact, his wolf howled and the bristles on his face began to sprout. Finn silently grunted.
After several steps, Kaleena whipped off her blindfold and grinned. As much as he wanted to hug and kiss her at their success, they weren’t safe by any means.
Do it, his wolf begged. I’m not sure I can hold out much longer.
Damn it, you have to.
His wolf growled back at him.
The sun had set but a faint pink glow resided in the upper clouds. His shifter sight allowed him to see well enough to make their way to the forest’s edge. It also allowed others to see them cross the expansive field.
“I know you can shift, but can you do that wearing those cuffs?” Finn had no idea if the force of the shift would be strong enough to break them. He’d never tried to change into his wolf form while being handcuffed. Come to think of it, he’d never been handcuffed, even by a woman.
Her eyes widened for a moment as if she hadn’t been sure he knew what kind of shifter she was. Kaleena held up her wrists. “Even if my animal could break through these, a dark witch put a spell on me. I have no magic and can’t access any of my powers.”
He held in his disappointment. “There goes plan A.” He could shift and race to find the others—wherever that was—but he’d never leave her. “We have to make it to the forest then.”
“We can’t run or we’ll attract attention.”